Date: 04/11/2016 04:00 AM
AP-OR–Right Now/1107
FORESTLAND PURCHASE
Eugene buys 100 acres, plans to make it part of trail system
(Information in the following story is from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – The city of Eugene has bought 100 acres of forestland that includes a hill with sweeping views and plans to make it part of the city’s ridgeline trail system.
City Parks Planning Manager Neil Bjorklund tells The Register-Guard (http://bit.ly/1SaoYuh) in a story on Sunday that the $850,000 purchase is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The 100 acres has three adjacent parcels near Lane Community College all purchased near the end of 2015. Two of the parcels cost $675,000 and the third $175,000.
Money for the land buy came from a parks bond measure voters approved in 2006.
Bjorklund says the new lands are currently closed because the area contains potential hazards yet to be addressed, has no trails and no signs marking boundaries with private property.
FALSE ALARMS-FINES
Bend to start charging for false security alarms
(Information in the following story is from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) – Police in Bend say they’ll start enforcing false alarm fees after responding to more than 2,000 such alarms in each of the last two years.
The City Council in 2012 approved fees of $250 for a second false alarm and $500 for a third false alarm but those fees haven’t been enforced.
The Bulletin reports (http://bit.ly/1SansII) that police recently sent letters to every address with a false alarm in 2015 informing them that fee enforcement will begin after a two-month grace period.
Bend Police Chief Jim Porter says the department spent more than 500 hours responding to false alarms in 2014 and 2015.
The police department says they responded to about 4,400 alarms during that period but only ended up writing 25 reports.
BEVERLY CLEARY TURNS 100
Author Beverly Cleary turns 100 with wit, candor
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Beverly Cleary turns 100 on Tuesday. She hasn’t lost the feisty wit that helped inspire the likes of characters Ramona and Beezus Quimby and Henry Huggins in the children’s books that sold millions and enthralled generations of youngsters.
Her birthday will be marked with a slice of carrot cake at her retirement home, where they’ll show the movie “Discovering Beverly Cleary: An “Oregon Art Beat.”
The documentary not only marks her 100th birthday but it also examines her Oregon roots, and the impact of her work.
She hasn’t seen the film yet, but is quick to point out that’s she’s “much better looking” in her photograph.
Cleary, who started writing in her 30s, penned more than two dozen books over several decades. She hung up her pen but still enjoys reading and doing crossword puzzles.
STATE OF THE STATE
Gov. Brown reflects on unexpected first year, future goals
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Delivering her second state of the state address, Gov. Kate Brown on Friday reflected on her unexpected first year in office by touting achievements on minimum wage and affordable housing.
She also acknowledged darker times like the Umpqua Community College shooting and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge armed occupation.
Looking ahead, Brown – who faces two other Democrats in Oregon’s May 17 primary to finish the remaining two years of John Kitzhaber’s term – laid out a wide range of issues she’d like to tackle in the 2017 legislative session.
She said she’s determined to improve Oregon’s high school graduation rate, among the lowest in the country, and also wants to revive a gun control bill that died this year that would’ve closed the so-called “Charleston loophole” by requiring that background checks clear before guns can be purchased.
CLIMATE CHANGE LAWSUIT
Climate change lawsuit by 21 youths takes big step forward
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The federal government and big energy companies have lost an important round in their effort to block a climate change lawsuit by young plaintiffs who contend the U.S. is failing to protect them from the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday rejected motions by the U.S. government and trade groups representing the energy companies to dismiss the lawsuit by 21 plaintiffs ages 8 to 19.
A U.S. District Court judge has the final say over whether the lawsuit will proceed to trial.
The plaintiffs contend the release of dangerous carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere is a violation of their constitutional rights. They want the U.S. government to be forced to create a plan that would significantly cut the emissions.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-BODY
Homeless teen faces murder charge in Texas student’s killing
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A judge has set a $1 million bond for a homeless 17-year-old police say killed a University of Texas student in the heart of the campus.
Travis County Judge Brenda Kennedy signed an arrest affidavit Friday that says “there is sufficient probable cause to support the charge of murder” against Meechaiel Criner (mih-kah-EEL’ KRY’-nur).
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo says Criner will face murder and perhaps other charges for killing first-year dance student Haruka Weiser.
Weiser, an 18-year-old Oregon native, was last seen leaving the campus drama building Sunday night. Her body showed signs of assault and was found in a creek near the alumni center and football stadium.
In response to the killing, university officials requested increased police presence on campus and are working with a state agency to review security.
RANCHING STANDOFF-BIRD FESTIVAL
Interest in festival at Malheur refuge high after standoff
(Information in the following story is from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) – In the wake of the weeks-long standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, interest in the refuge’s annual bird festival has skyrocketed.
The Bulletin of Bend reports that officials say this year’s Harney County Migratory Bird Festival has seen more interest this year than past festivals with most of the scheduled bird-watching tours selling out earlier this week.
Many of the guided tours take place within the Malheur refuge, where armed occupiers stayed for 41 days during a standoff with federal officials.
The festival began Thursday and ran through Sunday.
Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge President Gary Ivey says the occupation likely made the refuge more well known, increasing interest. He says since January his independent nonprofit has received about $75,000 in new memberships and donations.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
